Acoustic-kinetoscope



Aug. 4, 1-936. P. s. MALICKSON 2,049,353

ACOUSTIC KINE'I'OSCOPE Filed 'Jan. 5, 1935 5 Sheefs-Sheet 1 a]? wlwllzfan,

z 2 A TTOIFA/E Aug. 4, 1936. P. s. MALICKSON 2,049,853

' ACOUSTIC KINETOSCOPE Filed Jan. 5, 1935 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Philip b ZYaZL'C/Xwn,

A TTORN E Y.

Aug. 1936. P. s. MALICKSON ACOUSTIC KINETOSCOPE Filed Jan. 5, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. .90

. ATTORNEY.

. g- 193$- P. s. MALICKSON 2,049,353

ACOUSTIC KINETOSCOPE Filed Jan. 5, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ll' z? 'II I I. I "Il #2 a INVEN TOR.

Philip 6! Hallie/61mm,

; ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ACOUSTIC-KINETOSCOPE Philip S. Malickson, Bala, Pa.

Application January 1 Claims.

My invention relates to the reproduction of motion-pictures and the synchronous reproduction of sound, and relates particularly to a projecting machine for reproducing motion-pictures and sound from a film having both picture images and sound images thereon.

It is an object of my invention to construct a unitary frame which is sturdy in construction, which is comparatively light in weight, and which is free from vibration during the operation of the film moving mechanism and the sound take-off apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to construct a frame or plate that is simple and light in its structure and which lends itself to inexpensive manufacture in large quantities.

Another object of my invention is to construct a foundation plate wherein the various elements may he placed quickly and accurately upon the struct a foundation plate wherein bearings and planar surfaces for supporting and correctly aligning the various mechanisms are integrally formed with the plate.

Another object of my invention is to embody a foundation plate for both the motion-picture mechanism and the sound-on-film take-01f devices.

Another object of my invention is to embody a unitary foundation plate which supports the film driving mechanism and houses the photoelectric cell.

Another object of my invention is to arrange the numerous elements upon a frame so that all projector and sound system elements requiring periodical cleaning are easily accessible.

Another object of my invention is to embody a projector which emits a minimum quantity of noise while operating.

Another object of my invention is to provide a projector wherein the film" sound track touches no portion of any of the elements, in order that the sound track remains free and clear of scratches; and the filmis power driven or pulled every step of the way through the mechanism. Another object of my invention is to mount the means for shifting the framer as-well as the means to tension that portion of the film tra- 5, 1935, Serial No. 481

versing the stream or beam of light from the condenser lens on a frame that may be easily demounted as a unit either for cleaning for repairs or for replacement and which may be remounted on the frame in correct alignment, 5 even by a person who is not skillful in making mechanical adjustments.

Another object of my invention is to provide a single guideway leading from asupply to a take-up reel so that the film may be directed l0 edgewise through the .entire guideway to properly position the filmin the machine.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of the character described of simple and economical construction, that posl5 ses'ses a maximum amount of. serviceability and of strength.

With the above and related objects in view, my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, that will be fully 20 described when the description is read in conjunction with the accompa y drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my invention embodied in an acoustic kinetoscope 25 projector.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 .is a sectional view taken onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view partly in section, showing the film pressure shoe.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view take on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the cooperative arrangement of the exciter lamp, the lens, andthe photoelectric cell.

Fig. 8 is aview taken on the line 88 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the front side of the main supporting frame.

' Fig. 10 is an enlarged side elevational view of the upper pull-sprocket and itscomplementary idler rollers. Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line ll-Il of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the film and supporting bracket.

Fig. 13 is aperspective view of the film pressure shoe..

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the rear side guide of the main supporting frame.

Fig. l5 is a perspective view of the train of I related gear wheels.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of the oil well.

Fig. 1'7 is a sectional view taken on the line ii-il of Fig. 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Figs. 1 and 2 is shown a sound-on-film and picture projector within. a housing. The housing or casing, generally designated as A, is described in considerable detail in my copending patent application, Serial No. 796,089, filed September 29, 1934.

In my invention I embody the sound-on-film and the motion picture film projectors in one housing and the amplifying apparatus in another housing. However, the present description and disclosure relates only to the motion picture and sound-on-film projector.

'An integrally formed plate, generally designated as B, is positioned to extend vertically in the chamber formed by the housing A. The plate B, preferably formed of metal in a mold and then machined, is retained in position by means of holding bolts it passing through the ceiling of the housing and through a flange G2, which flange is formed integrally with the plate B; holding bolts M, also, passing through the base of the housing and bottom flanges i5, I6, H which flanges are formed integrally with the plate B. A shock-absorbing piece of material i8, such as rubber, is disposed between the ceiling and the top of the plate B, and a similar piece In is disposed between the bottom of the plate and the upper surface of the plate. Thus, the plate is not only retained in position by the holding means, but the plate is cushioned so that shock or vibration is not transmitted to or from the housing.

On.one side of the plate is located the mechanism that actuates the sprockets and the intermarily a metallic casting comprising an elongated but thin body portion 2|; however, strengthening elements, such as ribs 22, radiate from the portion to be strengthened to a head or reenforced border 23 of the plate.

The frame B of a general tmpezium shape has a, vertically extending rear edge BI, and a front edge B2 which extends parallel to the rear edge for only'a portion of its length. The upper edge B3 of the frame is joined at one end to the upper irregular portion of front edge B2 and the other edge of the edge Bl Joins the vertically extending edge Bi. The lower edge B4 is joined to thefront. edge 32 by a. slight bend at one end and'ioins the vertically extending edge Bl at its other edge.

Guide rollers 24 are mounted adiacent that depicts the path that the film should take through the machine and, also, the proper size of loops that the operator should make at the time the film is placed into position upon the sprockets, of which shall be hereinafter further described Plunger 46 positions the rollers 40, 4| either close 9. But '2 in the ceiling of the casing A in order to film gate, and sound take-oil drum, all

Tracing the passage of the film through the machine, the film is moved first by a driven upper sprocket 30 that is located adjacent the film gate. The sprocket 30 has one set of teeth spaced about its periphery, which mesh with the perforations in the film, and the sprocket is undercut on its curved bounding surface sufiiciently so that two ridges are formed that enable the marginal sides of the film to ride thereon. The single set of teeth is used since the 16 millimeter sound-on-film is generally made with only one set of perforations. The undercutting reduces the Wearing of the picture image orof the sound track of the film in order to extend the life of the film. The driven sprocket 30 is securely mounted upon a rotatable shaft 32. The sprocket shaft is journaled in a bearing 36 that is integrally formed with the plate B. The width of the bearing 36 both on the front and rear sides of the frame B is sumcient to prevent 20 wobbling of the shaft and, also, prevents any undue bending of the shaft. On the rear side of the frame and joining the hub of the bearing 36 are a plurality of strengthening ribs 33. The

ribs 33 terminate either at the head 23 on the 25 pivoted arm 42, as is shown in Figs. 1, 10, and

11. The purpose of pivoting the arm 42 is to enable the film to be threaded upon the sprocket teeth after the arm 42 is moved downwardly so that the idler rollers 40, 4! are distantly removed instead of in engagement with the driven sprocket 30.

The arm 42 has its other'cam end 44 shaped as a hyperbole. so that a spring 45 urges a plunger 46 against the hyperbolic surface of the arm, which surface is located to one side of the vertex of the hyperbola, in order to retain the arm in a predetermined position. The hyper-. bolic cam when engaged by the spring pressed to the sprocket, when the film is to be fed, or distantly from the sprocket 30 at the time of threading the film .on the machine.

From the sprocket 30, the film passes by a film gate, generally designated as C, which is illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 12. A suitable means is provided for positively moving the film in a rapid intermittent motion across the light path so as to momentarily position the picture directly in front of the light aperture in the film gate. The means I use to intermittently move the film is a claw 48 which is actuated by a cam. The claw 48 has one end slotted which slot moves about a fixed shaft, which shaft is retained by a trunnion 49. The trunnion extends horizontally in the front face of the plate II and is integrally formed therewith. The trunnion is located adjacent the rear bead BI and close to the upper portion of the plate cutaway portion.

Because of the relatively high speed at which the film is operated, it has a tendency to continue its motion during the retraction or return movement of the feeding claw. For this reason,

I use a pressure shoe which tensions the film 70 frame of pictures on the film will not properly register with the aperture through which the rays of light pass. tion of the picture and the light aperture is greatly magnified on the screen and, therefore, it is highly desirable that every picture on the film should be stopped in exactly the same position in the stream of light.

The film gate C is comprised of a light interceptor plate 50, illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 12, 13 and 17, which intercepts the rays of light that are projected forwardly through an aperture in the plate from a projection lamp I38 located in a rear compartment or lamp house I10.

The plate 50 is mounted upon a support or bracket 90 which forms a demountable unit. The rear planar surface of the bracket 90 is adapted to rest against the plane embossment 5I, the latter being integrally formed as part of the front face of the frame B. Two small studs 52A, 52A, placed adjacent openings 52B, 523 in the embossment 5i, align the bracket 90 into a predetermined position by interfitting with openings 53A, 53A on the bracket, so that openings 53B, 53B on the bracket register with the openings 52B, 52B, for the reception of holding bolts or screws. By the above described arrangement a person not skilled in making mechanical adjustments could not incorrectly align the bracket and the instrumentalities carried thereon; after the gate assembly is to be replaced after cleaning or its return from the factory for repairs or in exchange for another unit.

The front wall of the interceptor plate 50 has a vertically disposed recess which recess forms a film guide by virtue of the two vertically extending walls 55, 56 and the wall of the plate 50. A metallic vertically extending aperture mask or f lmframer 58, see Figs. I2, located within the recess hereinbefore described, has an aperture 60 therein which registers with the aperture in the interceptor 50. However, the aperture 60 in the mask has a smaller area than the interceptor aperture and when properly adjusted shuts off the image outside the border of the descends, and when the'free end of the lever 64 is moved downwardly, t e framer ascends.

Located in the plate 50 below the light aper- I ture is a slot '65 ,for accommodating the prongs of the film feeding claw 48. i

The film tensioning device comprises a vertically positioned shoe I0, see Figs. 4, 13 and 1'7, having an opening I2 therein which opening is adapted to register with the light aperture 60. The longitudinal central portion of the shoe is depressed so that vertically extending marginal sides I3, I4 of the shoe form a pair of base rails which frictionally engage the longitudinal marginal sides of the film F in order to press the film against the interceptor plate 50. Theshoe I0 is secured to a vertically extending plate by a pair of horizontally extending studs 11, I8, and

' embracing the studs are helicalsprings I9,

that urge the shoe I0 toward the interceptor plate for exerting pressure on the marginal portions of the film.

A horizontally extending arm ,illustrated Any variation in the posiin Fig. 13, is integrally formed with a shoe supporting plate I6, and the arm 84 is bent to a right angle; and the right angle portion of the arm, designated as 86, is shaped to move backwardly and forwardly in a recess 88, see Fig. 12, of a support for a projector lens 9i. A spring press member 92, shown in Fig. 4, urges the arm 86 in the direction of the film.

A movable projector lens 9| is positioned to one side of the aperture through which the light rays pass so that the optical system may be focused on a reflecting screen which may be placed at a variable distance from the lens.

To enable the film to be easily inserted into the guideway, means are provided for manually shifting the shoe I0 in a horizontal direction. The means for manually shifting the shoe comprises a lever 94 securely fastened to the arm 84. A spring pressed tension shoe release lever 95,

illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and'fi, is pivotally meunted upon the frame B so that one end of the lever either fits into a groove 98 on the arm 86,

or rests upon the lever. The groove 98 is located so that the arm 86, as viewed in Fig. 4, must be moved to the right before the lever 96 and the groove 98 interfit. That is to say, when the shoe is moved away from the film gate to insert the film in position, the lever 96 willinterfit with the groove 98, thus holding the shoe 10 away from the gate. To release the shoe, the

operator pushes the free end of the lever 96 so that its end within the groove moves outwardly .of the groove, and the spring pressed member 92 then urges the shoe against the film.

The film then passes from the film gate about an idler or impedance .roller I00, see Figs. 1 and 8, which has its curved bounding surface depressed so that only the marginal sidesof the film engage the roller. A roller I02, carried by a spring pressed lever, which is pivoted to a trunnion or boss I03 integrally formed.with the front side of the plate, presses the film against the idler roller I00 and another idler I04 is placed adjacent the roller I00 and directly above a drum I00 that houses a photo-electriccell IN. The idler I04 is carried by a shaft which. is screwed into another trunnion or boss I05, the latter being integrally-formed with the plate B. The impedancev roller I00 revolves on' a shaft IO0A which is screwed into a trunnion IO0B which 'is integrally formed with the Frame B. A spring I000 surrounds the shaft I 00A and has its respective ends engage the roller and the trunnion. I

From the spri ng pressed impedance roller, the film passes about a photo-electric celhdrum housing I00 which has a cylindrical wall.\ The central portion of the outer surface I00of the housing I06 is depressed so that again only the marginal edges of the film will becontacted. A slit I09 is positioned-in the housing so that rays of light from the excite'r lamp'may pass through the sound objective lens M0,- the film sound-track, the slit I09, and impinge upon the photo-electric cell I01 where the intensity of the ra ys of light, received by the photo-electric cell, is transformed into electrical energy and the electrical energy is carried to an amplification system, The amplification system, however, does not form a part of -thisinvention.

The sound objective lens has a studtheresn which. is adapted to fit into a cooperative slot adjacent. a split on a detachable supporting bracket, generally-designated as H. The mterfitting stud and" slot insures the correct mounting of the objective lens in its holder or bracket. A flange M5 on the bracket H is adapted to be fitted against a plane embossment 1105A, which is integrally formed with the plate B. A plurality of openings in the flange and in the embossment for the reception of holding bolts or screws permit the proper alignment of the holding bracket Ho The film continues on its journey to a lower driven sprocket M2, which is carried on a shaft M3 that is carried on a bearing MBA. The sprocket is driven at a constant speed, and a single set of suitably spaced teeth on the surface of the sprocket mesh with the single row of perforations on the film. 1 A spring pressed.

outer roller IM, carried by an arm that is pivotally mounted on a trunnion M lA which is formed. with the plate A, likewise engages the lower driven sprocket M2 and the marginal sides of the film rides thereon as a result of the curved bounding surface of the sprocket having its central portion depressed so that the edges of the film are only engaged. The film passes over another idler roller 6 96, which is mounted on a shaft that is held by a boss 6116A prior to entering the film valve guides i it where it is'rolled upon a take-up reel. The boss 005A is integrally formed with the plate B and extends in a horizontal plane on the front of the frame B.

An annular ring I 26, located at the approximate center and integrally formed with the plate B, serves to carry a socket I66 upon which the photo=electric cell is mounted as well as a support for the photo-electric cell housing 806, and a plurality of strengthening ribs 22 merge with and extend from the annular ring to the bead 23 of the frame B, which is illustrated in Fig. 14. i

The entire movable apparatus is driven by a constant speed electric motor I26, which is controlled'by a governor. The motor's drive shaft I28 rotates a belt I30 which is connected by means of a pulley I32 with what is termed a primary drive shaft I34, this shaft serves to drive the take-up reel and the driving sprockets, as herein shall be further described. Mounted upon the drive shaft I28 of the motor are a series of fan blades I36. which force a. draft of air in and around the source of illumination, which is the electric projector lamp I38. It is necessary to cool the lamp in order to prevent the rapid deterioration of the filament in the amp.

A reflector I39 is adiustably mounted upon a horizontally located. circular support. I39A -by means of a clamp that is held taut to the support I39A by virtue of aset screw. The reflector may be rotated about the horizontal support I39A with the support as its center. The reflector I39 is also vertically adjustable in height by meanspf a clamp grasping a vertically ex- .tending portion I393 of the circular reflector support.

The primary drive shaft-I34, see Figs. 3, 6, and 15, suitably supported by a bracket I40 and a bearing! 9A which is integrally formed with the frame B, carries two pinion gears MI, I42 as well as acam or eccentric I which moves the film moving claw It. A knurled starting wheel INA is suitably attached to the shaft I so that -it extends on the front side of the frame within easy reach of the operator. 'Thewheel INA enables the operator to turn all the driven mechanisms durinsthe time the motor is ofl.

' accepts The pinion M2 on the drive shaft lift is in mesh with the first of a train of intermediate gears 1150, I56 and 852, the latter gear meshes with the driven gear H53; and the latter gear rotates the sprocket so and the shaft 32. The pulley 5 and the gear train reduces the number of revolutions of the motor, hence, the speed of the sprocket til is greatly reduced as compared to the speed of the motor.

Mounted upon the same shaft 11503 as the 10 intermediate gear llil is a large gear E55 which is in mesh with another gear 056, the latter is loosely mounted upon the lower driven sprocket shaft M3; The shaft 5MB is journaled upon a beg 859A which is integrally formed with 15 the plate 18. As the speed of the lower sprocket M2 is substantially, the same as the speed of the upper sprocket, the loop at the gate accommodates itself to the change in speed of the film at the gate aperture. 20 Since the cinema film sound track must pass by the photo-electric cell Wl at a uniform predetermined speed in order to faithfully reproduce sound, the sprocket H2 must revolve at substantially a. uniform predetermined speed so that the film will be pulled uniformly pass the photo-electric cell.

A wheel, generally designated as D, possessing a high moment of inertia is securely mounted upon the shaft II3, the latter also carries both 30 the lower take-ofi film sprocket H2 and the loosely mounted gear I56. The wheel D because of its high moment of inertia and its high momentum while in motion compensates for the speed fluctuations which otherwise would be imparted to the sprocket H2.

A rubber coupling I51, see Fig. 6, which eliminates excessive tension is securely attached to one side of the gear I56 by means of interfitting lugs and recesses. From the face of the wheel D extends a plurality of securely fastened studs I5'IA and the studs extend into suitable located openings in the rubber coupling I51. Thus, movement of the gear I56 revolves the coupling I51, the wheel D and its rigidly attached shaft H3; as well as the sprocket H2. The flat face of the bearing-3A on the rear side of the frame A limits the movement in one pulley serves to provide the driving means forv the take-up reel.

Suitably connected to the gear MI on the primary drive shaft I34 by means of an intermediate gear I65 is a shutter gear I61, see Figs. 2. and 15, that is mounted upon the same shaft I6'IA that carrles'a shutter, generally designated as G. The shutter G synchronized with the intermlttent claw mechanism 48 interrupts the light beam during the time of the feeding of the film.

The barrel type of shutter G comprises 9. cy-' 70 lindrical member, mounted upon the rotatable shaft Him that is carried by a bearing I6IB which is integrally formed with the plate B, and has two oppositely aligned apertures through which apertures the stream of lightmay pass. 75.-

by cutting off the projected light while the film is being fed, but the interruptions of light also largely eliminate the visual effect of flickering of the picture on the screen.

For a detailed description of the means for supporting and rotating the take-up reel reference is made to my copending patent application, Serial No. 746,088, filed September 29, 1934. Mounted upon the front wall of the housing A above the bracket is a socket I66, see Fig. 2, for connecting the photo-electric cell to a circuit outside the housing, and below the bracket is a socket I68 for connecting an exciterlamp to an 7 external source of power.

Since the exciter lamp E and its cooperative objective lens H must bein alignment with the same aperture I09 in the photo-electric cell housing, I provide a means for adjusting the combined exciter lamp and lens unit both in a horizontal and vertical direction. The base of the unit is supported on a circular shaft I'II, shown in Figs. 1 and 7, attached thereto which fits into a circular opening in a horizontally extending trunnion IN A, which is integrally formed with the frame B. A set screw I13 passes through the wall of the lug and engages the shaft I1I in order to hold the shaft in a predetermined position. Hence, if through some mechanical inaccuracy it is necessary to shift the unit vertically or horizontally, the operator merely loosens the set screw, moves the unit up or down or sideways as desired, and then tightens the set screw. I

The lamp housing I10 is spaced from the walls of the casing in order to reduce the amount of heating of the casing. It is well known that the intense heat generated by the filament heats the metal so highly that a long period of time must pass before the outside of the housing becomes sufiiciently cool so that the apparatus may be handled. I overcome this by spacing the housing from the walls of the casing. V

The housing I10 forms a chamber so that the blast of air from the fan blades I36 pass completely about the projection lamp I38 and out through the chimney, cooling the lamp I38 and partially cooling the walls of the housing I10.

On the rear wall-of the casing, I supply-a socket I12 forv connecting the external power circuit to the projector power leads. In the elec-- trical circuit, I insert two switches of the snapswitch type in series; one switch I14 controls both the operation of the motor and the lamp, and the second switch I15 controls the lamp. With such control of the power circuit, it is not possible to accidentally or negligently place the lamp only in the electrical circuit, and so ignite the film, since the heat generated by the lamp is sufiicient to ignite or burn the film if it remains stationary for a relatively short period of time before the light aperture I2.

Reviewing the operation of the machine, it will be understood that the film is placed upon the reel supporting bracket and a sufilcient length of film is drawn from the supply reel so that the film may be threaded around the various rollers or sprockets, care being taken to' establish loops in advance and to the rear of the film gate where the claw is positioned. The end of the film is coiled around the takeup reel, and the machine is now ready for operation. It is also to be understood that the amplifying circuit and the loud speaker are positioned in their proper placesand properly connected electrically in circuit.

Since there are numerous hearings or rubbing surfaces on the-machine, it is essential that sufficient lubricant be applied to those rubbing surfaces since it would not be convenient for the amateur operator to lubricate each portion surface thatrequires lubrication. Therefore, I provide in the top of the casing an oil well I80 that retains the ends of ducts or canals I82, the ducts lead to the various surfaces that require lubrication. The oil well is comprised of a circular cup with the ends of copper ducts therein. A spring pressed ball valve I84 permits the passage of oil to the oil well after the ball is pressed from its valve seat. Therefore, it is only essential for the operator sert the oil in one reservoir, but in this particular application I use two oil reservoirs or lubrication wells.

The flange I6, formed integrally with the lower edge of the plate B, extends transversely to the plate B and is strengthened by virtue of a web I90 that extends from the upper surface of the flange I6 and merges with the body portion of the plate B.

It is to be observed that with the use of a vertically extending foundation plate or bed all the mechanism mounted upon the front and rear sides are in direct view so that for purposes of testing, cleaning or adjusting the mechanism, no intricate casings need be removed, nor will the person who may be working on the mechanism be hampered by the crowding of the indi-. vidual elements.

The frame or plate also has various apertures, chambers, bearings,

.plane bosses, and

guide studs arranged to facilitate the assembly of the numerous elements comprising the filmmoving and sound-reproducing devices.

Although my invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim as my invention: A motion picture and sound-on-film projector including athln frame, a bead on the border of said frame, "a plurality of integrally formed laterally extending flanges on the upper and lower edges of said' flange whereby the frame may be fastened, a plurality of bearing surfaces. integrally formed in said frame whereby rotatable shafts may be supported, a plurality of thin strengthening ribs extending from the bead tothe outside surface of said bearings, said ribs being located only upon one surface of said frame, a plurality of planar surfaces on the surface of said frame which surface is opposite to that on which the strengthening ribs are lo- -plate and defining a photoelectric cell chamber.

PHILIP S. MALICKSON. 

